The Yellow River, the second largest river in China and the fifth largest in the world, has a total length of more than 5,000 kilometers and a basin area of nearly 750,000 square kilometers. The main birthplace of Chinese civilization is known as the "Mother River".

These data are somewhat familiar to Zhao Yong, and some have never been heard of. However, since the Northern Expedition, he has fought with this river many times, and relying on him in the flat water period, although the Zhao army needs to pay a great price, it can still successfully carry out the river crossing operation. One crosses the river into Shangjun, and the second crosses the river to gather in the clouds, and now, he is about to decide whether Zhao Jun wants to continue to challenge this mother river.

"If you bypass Jiuyuan and march to Wuyuan in a roundabout way, you will have to cross the river again. But what about the flow of this section of the river? Do I need to build a pontoon bridge or a wooden boat? This needs to be considered. Zhao Yong voiced his concerns.

Ling Huye was a little puzzled, but for fear of making Zhao Yong feel unhappy, he pondered for a while and said: "Although it is said that the Nanhe River is shallow, after all, it branches out of the big river, and the king's worries are normal. ”

It's Zhao Yong's turn to doubt, what Gu said is obviously a big river, how can he say that Nanhe said?

Niu Jian saw the two of them playing dumb riddles with each other, and knew that maybe Zhao Yong didn't know where the Nanhe River was, so he pointed to a small river on the south side of the river and said: "It's the flat water period now, and the Nanhe River is a diversion from the big river, so it must not be as big as the big river." Moreover, the five plains are on the south bank of the Great River, and after crossing the South River, you can go straight to the five plains. ”

After Niu Jian explained Ling Huye's proposal on the sand table, Zhao Yong suddenly became enlightened, it turned out that he regarded the Nanhe River in everyone's mouth as a big river, and the big river as an ordinary river, which caused the two to disagree on the plan.

It is said that after the Yellow River enters this place, it goes north along Yangshan, that is, Wolf Mountain, goes to the Wolf Mountain Plateau at Dengkou, the main stream turns to the east, goes to the Wolf Mountain Plateau and turns to the south, becomes Wuliang Suhai, continues to go south, to Xishanzui and eastward, this section of the river is called "North River"; The Yellow River opens a tributary from Dengkou and continues to the north, and overflows to become Tushenze after reaching the county, which is called the "West River"; And south of Dengkou, the lower reaches of the West River, there is a tributary along the three cities of Linrong, Linhe and Guangmu to the east, to the confluence of Xishanzui and the "North River", this tributary is called the "South River". However, because the North River is the main stream, the water volume of both the West River and the South River is relatively small compared to the North River, making it possible for cavalry to cross the river.

"From the map, Wuyuan is located in the sandwich area of the North River and the South River, bordering Wuliangsuhai in the east and Yangshan in the west. The characteristic of this place is that it is surrounded by mountains and surrounded by three rivers. Tushenze in the northwest and Wuliangsuhai in the northeast happen to form a natural defensive barrier. It can block the invasion of the Huns from the northern foot of Yangshan. And Wuyuan is a place built on the shore of Wuliangsu Sea. The northern foot of Yinshan Mountain in the east was often harassed by the Xiongnu southward due to the lack of corresponding fortifications. Louyuan takes Wuyuan as pasture, one can control the pasture at the northern foot of Yinshan Mountain from being occupied by the Huns, and the other can also retreat here to prevent the Huns from entering Wuyuan from the east. It is a place that can be attacked and defended when it is retreated. According to Zhao Yong's meaning, Ling Huye slowly said the situation near Wuyuan.

In other words, the Xiongnu were very active in the two areas of Yangshan and Yinshan. Lou slowly occupied this place in order to resist the southward movement of the Huns? Well, it's a good place indeed. Zhao Yong said, nodded, and suddenly moved his gaze to the west of Wuyuan, in the direction of Tu Shenze under Wolf Mountain. I couldn't help but ask: "Between the west of the Five Plains and the Wolf Mountain, is it suitable for farming?" ”

Ling Huye looked at the topographic map and continued to explain: "What the king said is the area between the North River and the South River, and this place is also called 'Henan Land'. ”

"Henan? If you don't pay attention, it's really easy to get confused? Zhao Yong said with a smile, and everyone laughed except Ling Huye. Indeed, for them, the name Henan refers to the Central Plains, and for Zhao Yong, it refers to a province in later generations, and what they don't know is that the Henan land in Linghuye's mouth is a place full of swords and gunsmoke for the Qin and Han dynasties after the Warring States period.

"Henan refers to the area south of the North River. Due to the slightly higher terrain in the northwest than in the southeast, this place has many rivers and is in the form of strips after the erosion between the North River and the South River. The gap between the river channels is small, and the large rivers have enough water, so this is a swampy area. In addition, the water volume of the big river is unstable, if the water volume is too large, it is very easy to wash the existing river channel and force the diversion, it is not suitable to plant in this place, but cattle, sheep and livestock, like here, because of the abundant water and grass, rich in horses. This is also the place where Lou Annoyance relies most for survival, and it is also the last place where Lou Yuan lives. ”

Zhao Yong looked at this area that he called the back set, and was reluctant to move away for a long time. Without him, if according to what Ling Huye said, the water and grass here are abundant and suitable for animal husbandry, then Zhao can completely breed war horses here, which not only saves money, but also has great economic value, and animal husbandry production can become the economic growth point of Zhao State!

"However, as I said just now, the Huns have also coveted this place for a long time, and have invaded this place from the east and west ends of Yangshan many times, competing with Lou Nuren for pasture. Under no choice, Lou Yuan established a city in a mountain pass north of the Beihe River and at the southern foot of Yangshan, and garrisoned troops to prevent the Xiongnu from advancing eastward, and ordered it to be Gaoque. The swampy areas south of Gaoque and the Great River formed a natural defensive barrier that could block the southward march of the Huns. ”

"Similarly, for us, if we can take Gaoque and garrison troops here, then it will also block the possibility of the main force of Louyuan's troops from escaping to the northern foot of Yangshan through Gaoque and entering the territory of the Xiongnu, so as to compress his range of activities."

Ling Huye pointed out what he said on the map one by one, and everyone could generally understand what he meant according to what he said, that is, in order to prevent this dog from entering the territory of the Huns, die without stiffening, and lead the Huns eastward, it was necessary to block this opening and force the main force of Lou to fight with the main force of the Zhao army. I have to say that although Zhao Yong and they have made countless plans on the map and in the court, but they are all polemics on paper, and when it comes to the actual battle, there is no explanation of local people like Huye, they are like forcing the building to annoying battles, and the other party may not be as they wish, especially when they have seen the power of the Zhao army's cavalry, they can not fight a decisive battle, and Lou Yuan often likes it the most.

"However, to the east of Wuliangsuhai, the area between Yangshan and Yinshan can still lead to Xiongnu territory. This place is densely forested, and I am afraid it will not be easy to defend. Even if we cut off the retreat of Lou's annoying westward escape, he can still go north along the foothills between the two mountains like the Huns. Xu Yuan looked at the topographic map and said to Ling Huye.

"What General Xu said is right. If Zhao Jun did not occupy Yuanyang, then what Xiao Wang said today would be empty talk. However, because we occupy Yuanyang, blocking the route for the Louyuan people to flee east into the Xiongnu, we will also be snuffed out by our army. Moreover, it is also possible to bypass the annoying frontal defense of the building from Jiuyuan, enter the Jiuyuan from the flank, and unexpectedly bring heavy damage to the people of the building. ”

"You mean, there's no other trail here? However, this place is densely wooded, and even if there is a trail, it may be very difficult for the army to march. What's more, it's going to be about entering the Nine Plains from now on. Li Zhuo couldn't help but say.

In Zhao Yong's impression, in his own time, Yinshan could hardly see a decent forest, almost a bare grassland, desertification, soil erosion, and scarce woodland, which was completely inferior to the current appearance of lush vegetation and birds and beasts. It has to be said that the destructive power of man to nature is huge. What he didn't know was that it was the development and use of this place by Zhao and Qin in history that caused the ecological environment of this place to be broken, and this kind of problem really can't be expanded.

"Yinshan is lush with vegetation, birds and animals, you can see it everywhere. However, in the northern foothills, most of them are hills, and the mountains are not high, so horses are feasible. And in order to graze in the foothills, Lou Annoying people also have several paths here to shuttle between the north and the south. One of the most important places is here. Ling Huye pointed to Jiuyuan, then crossed Yin Mountain, put down a sign in a place not far away, and said, "This place is called Guyang." ”

"Guyang?" Niu Jian thought for a while and said, "This place seems to be a city built by the original Wei State." ”

"The general has a good memory, and this city was built by the Wei State." Ling Huye said, "In fact, this city is also not deserted now, but it has been weathered for a long time, and the defensive effect is not strong. However, as the northern gate of Jiuyuan and the frontier city for observing the movements of the Huns, the role of this place is not insignificant. ”

"This city was actually built by the Wei State? It's incredible. Zhao Yong couldn't help but say, in his opinion, this place is 108,000 miles away from the Wei State, how can it be the city of the Wei State?

"Actually, there is nothing surprising. The so-called land west of the river, at this time, is probably the land between the upper county of the Qin State, the big river and the Luo River, but when the Jin and Qin were fighting for hegemony, it refers to the land west of the big river, that is, the land west of the North River, which we call here can be called the land west of the river at that time. It's just that it slowly evolved into the area between the Great River and the Luo River, that is, Daijun. Therefore, if it is not bad as expected, the purpose of the establishment of Guyang is to confront the Qin State here, because after the Wei State moved its capital to Daliang, it has lost control of the Hexi and Hedong regions, and the Qin State does not attach special importance to Wuyuan and Jiuyuan, and only builds the Great Wall in Shangjun, and the area north of the Great Wall of Qin State has become a nomadic area for the Huns, Lou Annoyance and Linhu people. Niu Jian slowly talked about this history.

PS: 1. Ancient and modern different names kill people, and it takes a lot of effort to check the "Water Scripture Note", so this chapter is updated slowly.

2. Regarding Guyang, I have checked the "Guyang County Chronicle", and I reserve my opinion that it was built by the Wei State, but I still reason according to the county chronicle, which is not a historical fact, so don't take it seriously.

(End of chapter)